Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Need To Find A Good Dr In Florida--please Help!

mom26boys

By mom26boys
in Doctors

Recommended Posts

mom26boys Apprentice
mom26boys
Posted

Can anyone suggest a good doctor in Florida? I live in the Central Florida area (Orlando), but at this point I'm willing to travel anywhere.

I have a positive blood test (endomysial ab (iga) screen), and my gp says I need to see a gastro. Went to one today and he was horrible! He sounded like he was in the dark ages when it came to celiac. He called it "sprue", and said I couldn't possibly have it because I'm too fat. He didn't bother to listen to what I had to say, especially that I had tried going gluten-free for 3 weeks and felt great and actually lost weight, which I haven't been able to do in 5 years! He was more interested in putting me on a diet and exercise program (as if I've never tried that!!!) and told me I needed to bring him workout logs signed by a trainer at the Y or he wouldn't consider them valid--how insulting!!!

Anyway, I would love to find a gastro that will actually listen to me. I already know I need to go gluten-free, but I would like to have the endoscopy done because there is a possible undiagnosed history in my family--father died of liver chirrosis, grandmother of stomach cancer, etc. Any input from anyone would be greatly appreciated!!!

  • 2 weeks later...
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


sylviaann Apprentice
sylviaann
Posted
Can anyone suggest a good doctor in Florida? I live in the Central Florida area (Orlando), but at this point I'm willing to travel anywhere.

I have a positive blood test (endomysial ab (iga) screen), and my gp says I need to see a gastro. Went to one today and he was horrible! He sounded like he was in the dark ages when it came to celiac. He called it "sprue", and said I couldn't possibly have it because I'm too fat. He didn't bother to listen to what I had to say, especially that I had tried going gluten-free for 3 weeks and felt great and actually lost weight, which I haven't been able to do in 5 years! He was more interested in putting me on a diet and exercise program (as if I've never tried that!!!) and told me I needed to bring him workout logs signed by a trainer at the Y or he wouldn't consider them valid--how insulting!!!

Anyway, I would love to find a gastro that will actually listen to me. I already know I need to go gluten-free, but I would like to have the endoscopy done because there is a possible undiagnosed history in my family--father died of liver chirrosis, grandmother of stomach cancer, etc. Any input from anyone would be greatly appreciated!!!

Hi There,

I live east of Tampa and encountered the same problem. I have yet to find a GI doctor in my area who is well educated on Celiac Disease. I travel to Atlanta to see Dr. Cynthia Rudert 2 x per year (she was my former doctor and is the only Celiac Specialist in the southeast). Since you have a formal diagnosis and strong family history, you may want to seriously consider seeing her. She will spend quality time with you, is extremely knowledgable and a great listener!

Please let me now if I can help you further!

Warmest regards,

Sylvia Ann

Chuck8268 Rookie
Chuck8268
Posted
Hi There,

I live east of Tampa and encountered the same problem. I have yet to find a GI doctor in my area who is well educated on Celiac Disease. I travel to Atlanta to see Dr. Cynthia Rudert 2 x per year (she was my former doctor and is the only Celiac Specialist in the southeast). Since you have a formal diagnosis and strong family history, you may want to seriously consider seeing her. She will spend quality time with you, is extremely knowledgable and a great listener!

Please let me now if I can help you further!

Warmest regards,

Sylvia Ann

I found out the NEWER Doctors seem much more well aware of celiac than the oldtimers. My new doc ran celiac test First after she saw my previous testing done by my old doc

Chuck

twe0708 Community Regular
twe0708
Posted
Can anyone suggest a good doctor in Florida? I live in the Central Florida area (Orlando), but at this point I'm willing to travel anywhere.

I have a positive blood test (endomysial ab (iga) screen), and my gp says I need to see a gastro. Went to one today and he was horrible! He sounded like he was in the dark ages when it came to celiac. He called it "sprue", and said I couldn't possibly have it because I'm too fat. He didn't bother to listen to what I had to say, especially that I had tried going gluten-free for 3 weeks and felt great and actually lost weight, which I haven't been able to do in 5 years! He was more interested in putting me on a diet and exercise program (as if I've never tried that!!!) and told me I needed to bring him workout logs signed by a trainer at the Y or he wouldn't consider them valid--how insulting!!!

Anyway, I would love to find a gastro that will actually listen to me. I already know I need to go gluten-free, but I would like to have the endoscopy done because there is a possible undiagnosed history in my family--father died of liver chirrosis, grandmother of stomach cancer, etc. Any input from anyone would be greatly appreciated!!!

I live in Tampa, FL and just went to Dr. Feldman last Monday and he did blood work and since my tests came back pointing to celiac disease he scheduled me yesterday for a Colonoscopy which confirmed his diagnosis. His number is 813-972-2324.

  • 1 month later...
mapchick Newbie
mapchick
Posted
Can anyone suggest a good doctor in Florida? I live in the Central Florida area (Orlando), but at this point I'm willing to travel anywhere.

I have a positive blood test (endomysial ab (iga) screen), and my gp says I need to see a gastro. Went to one today and he was horrible! He sounded like he was in the dark ages when it came to celiac. He called it "sprue", and said I couldn't possibly have it because I'm too fat. He didn't bother to listen to what I had to say, especially that I had tried going gluten-free for 3 weeks and felt great and actually lost weight, which I haven't been able to do in 5 years! He was more interested in putting me on a diet and exercise program (as if I've never tried that!!!) and told me I needed to bring him workout logs signed by a trainer at the Y or he wouldn't consider them valid--how insulting!!!

Anyway, I would love to find a gastro that will actually listen to me. I already know I need to go gluten-free, but I would like to have the endoscopy done because there is a possible undiagnosed history in my family--father died of liver chirrosis, grandmother of stomach cancer, etc. Any input from anyone would be greatly appreciated!!!

I don't know if you are still looking for a good Gastroenterologist but I just went to Dr Henry Levine at the Center for Digestive Health in Orlando, FL. His office is off of Mills Ave near the OMA. After having undiagnosed and misdiagnosed Celiac disease for years Dr Levine focused in on it within the first few minutes of my initial consult. He asked about my ethnic background and listen to the problems I was having and my eating habits. I had a blood test, a barium xray (to rule out acid reflux, which all the other doctors treated me for), an ultrsound to check my gallbadder and liver and an upper endoscopy (he performed at a diagnostic wing in the practice's offices). I found out Tuesday that I have Celiac. Dr Levine is an experienced professional. I would recommend him to go over your family history. He zeroed in on my heritage and understands the relationship between heredity and external triggers.

Good Luck! I hope you can achieve a healthy understanding of what is ailing you and can get to feeling better soon!

  • 1 month later...
MJS Rookie
MJS
Posted

My family and I went to the University of Florida hospital. They know what they are doing, did my endoscopy fine and diagnosed me right after.

  • 1 month later...
EditDiva Newbie
EditDiva
Posted

I don't know if you are still looking for a good Gastroenterologist but I just went to Dr Henry Levine at the Center for Digestive Health in Orlando, FL. His office is off of Mills Ave near the OMA. After having undiagnosed and misdiagnosed Celiac disease for years Dr Levine focused in on it within the first few minutes of my initial consult. He asked about my ethnic background and listen to the problems I was having and my eating habits. I had a blood test, a barium xray (to rule out acid reflux, which all the other doctors treated me for), an ultrsound to check my gallbadder and liver and an upper endoscopy (he performed at a diagnostic wing in the practice's offices). I found out Tuesday that I have Celiac. Dr Levine is an experienced professional. I would recommend him to go over your family history. He zeroed in on my heritage and understands the relationship between heredity and external triggers.

Good Luck! I hope you can achieve a healthy understanding of what is ailing you and can get to feeling better soon!

Thank you for this info!! I'm newly diagnosed (by my primary care Dr... Which I guess it's a miracle that she thought of Celiac, now that I'm reading up on everyone's trails and tribulations with being diagnosed...!). But she sent me to two GI doctors who don't know ANYTHING about Celiac. When I had my endoscopy done, right before I went under the GI doc said, "Well, I KNOW you don't have Celiac sprue, but we'll do the procedure anyway." Very rude to be telling me this now. And he only did one biopsy, which thankfully showed the blunted vili.

Anyway. Now I'm looking for a GI doc in Orlando who knows about Celiac. So thanks for posting this!! :)

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • 3 weeks later...
CHARBEEGOOD Newbie
CHARBEEGOOD
Posted

I don't know if you are still looking for a good Gastroenterologist but I just went to Dr Henry Levine at the Center for Digestive Health in Orlando, FL. His office is off of Mills Ave near the OMA. After having undiagnosed and misdiagnosed Celiac disease for years Dr Levine focused in on it within the first few minutes of my initial consult. He asked about my ethnic background and listen to the problems I was having and my eating habits. I had a blood test, a barium xray (to rule out acid reflux, which all the other doctors treated me for), an ultrsound to check my gallbadder and liver and an upper endoscopy (he performed at a diagnostic wing in the practice's offices). I found out Tuesday that I have Celiac. Dr Levine is an experienced professional. I would recommend him to go over your family history. He zeroed in on my heritage and understands the relationship between heredity and external triggers.

Good Luck! I hope you can achieve a healthy understanding of what is ailing you and can get to feeling better soon!

This is most helpful. I live in Central Florida (Orlando) and between the allergist, PCP, Gastroenterologist, and Neurologist I have learned a lot about myself. I always wonder if the information I have been getting is the most sound. Like so many of us I have gotten a lot of mixed up information from the Dr. that it drives me nuts. Learning about a Dr. that gets it and is willing to spend the time with you is so helpful.

  • 1 year later...
Rx4JOY Newbie
Rx4JOY
Posted

I'm not new to Celiac's, but I'm new to the Central Florida doctors. I have been doing the front-desk screening & no one I've spoken to yet is very familiar with food allergies.

Any new input on this?

I'm specifically looking for a doctor that tests for FOOD allergies. I know gluten is not my only one, and I really am not having fun with the hit-or-miss method of eliminating things from my diet.

Thanks!

  • 2 weeks later...
Rx4JOY Newbie
Rx4JOY
Posted

I just found a wonderful Celiac's doctor in Central Florida!

William "Bill" Mayoral of The Center for Digestive Health Open Original Shared Link saw me late yesterday.

I could not possibly be MORE IMPRESSED! This doctor KNOWS his stuff!

There was no need for me to educate him. Based on my history, he immediately began talking about Celiacs. "Here's the game plan..." The RIGHT blood tests, the RIGHT other tests, AND the SCOPE for tissue sample, AND COLONOSCOPY!!! YES!!!!

He was hesitant on the food allergy testing through (Company Name Removed - They Spammed This Forum and are Banned), but I can order that myself. My insurance probably won't pay for it anyway.

He even talked about IBS as a complicating issue, but would not elaborate until after the tests are back.

I hope this helps!

p.s. There are actually 5 doctors in the group. Each has their own specialties, so be sure to ask which one you should see if you have other concerns, such as Crohn's (they do have one that specializes in Crohn's.) Blessings to you on your journey to wellness!

  • 5 years later...
Gina105 Newbie
Gina105
Posted

Just found a great doctor in rural Okeechobee area. I moved from Boston with my husband. They have diagnosed me with IBS for a long time but kept getting cramps, bloating and diarrhea inspite of taking probiotics . 

My TTG and other antibodies have been normal but my EgD with biopsies came back positive this time. 

This doctor kept telling me he thought it's not IBS - he was right. Now I am on gluten free diet and asymptomatic. 

If you need a good GI doc around this area, I would recommend him.

 

Dr. Vikram Tarugu www.gastroinflorida.com

 

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,544
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Jem68
    Newest Member
    Jem68
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
    • Jsingh
      Protein or fat?

      By Jsingh · Posted

      Hi,  I care for my seven year old daughter with Celiac. After watching her for months, I have figured out that she has problem with two kinds of fats- animal fat and cooking oils. It basically makes her intestine sore enough that she feels spasms when she is upset. It only happens on days when she has eaten more fat than her usual every day diet. (Her usual diet has chia seeds, flaxseeds, and avocado/ pumpkin seeds for fat and an occasional chicken breast.) I stopped using cooking oils last year, and when I reintroduced eggs and dairy, both of which I had held off for a few months thinking it was an issue of the protein like some Celiac patients habe mentioned to be the case, she has reacted in the same fashion as she does with excess fats. So now I wonder if her reaction to dairy and eggs is not really because of protein but fat.   I don't really have a question, just wondering if anyone finds this familiar and if it gets better with time.  Thank you. 
    • Chanda Richard
      High Cost of Gluten-Free Foods

      By Chanda Richard · Posted

      Hello, My name is Chanda and you are not the only one that gose through the same things. I have found that what's easiest for me is finding a few meals each week that last. I have such severe reactions to gluten that it shuts my entire body down. I struggle everyday with i can't eat enough it feels like, when I eat more I lose more weight. Make sure that you look at medication, vitamins and shampoo and conditioner also. They have different things that are less expensive at Walmart. 
    • petitojou
      Frequent nausea after gluten-free diet

      By petitojou · Posted

      Thank you so much! I saw some tips around the forum to make a food diary and now that I know that the community also struggles with corn, egg and soy, the puzzle pieces came together! Just yesterday I tried eating eggs and yes, he’s guilty and charged. Those there are my 3 combo nausea troublemakers. I’m going to adjust my diet ☺️ Also thank you for the information about MCAS! I’m from South America and little it’s talked about it in here. It’s honestly such a game changer now for treatment and recovery. I know I’m free from SIBO and Candida since I’ve been tested for it, but I’m still going to make a endoscopy to test for H. Pylori and Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Thank you again!! Have a blessed weekend 🤍
    • knitty kitty
      Unusual bright yellow but odourless discharge

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Yes, I, too, have osteoporosis from years of malabsorption, too.  Thiamine and magnesium are what keep the calcium in place in the bones.  If one is low in magnesium, boron, selenium, zinc, copper, and other trace minerals, ones bone heath can suffer.  We need more than just calcium and Vitamin D for strong bones.  Riboflavin B 2, Folate B 9 and Pyridoxine B 6 also contribute to bone formation and strength.   Have you had your thyroid checked?  The thyroid is important to bone health as well.  The thyroid uses lots of thiamine, so a poorly functioning thyroid will affect bone heath.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.